Barbara Borromeo, died 1572, Wife of Camillo Gonzaga 1555 [obverse]

Attributed to Pier Paolo Galeotti

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a detailed embossed profile of a person on a medallion or coin. The figure is depicted from the shoulders up, facing to the right in a side profile. The person has distinct facial features, including a straight nose, tightly curled hair gathered back and styled, and wears an elaborate garment with textured folds and decorative elements. They also have a detailed necklace with round beads or pearls around their neck. The background is the smooth surface of the medallion, with embossed writing around the edges. The entire piece is in varying shades of bronze with some patina effects, and the surrounding area is dark to highlight the medallion.